We show the existence of a nonadiabatic geometric phase, i.e., an Aharonov-Anandan (AA) phase, in the Aharonov-Casher (AC) topological interference effect in one-dimensional mesoscopic rings. We find the AC phase is the phase accumulated by the spin wave function during a cyclic evolution, and show it is the sum of a geometric AA phase and a dynamical phase. In the adiabatic limit, the AA phase becomes the spin-orbit Berry phase introduced by Aronov and Lyanda-Geller. By solving exactly the model of a quasi-one-dimensional ring formed by the 2DEG on a semiconductor heterostructure, we discuss the observability of the AA phase in the AC effect.

• Received 21 October 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.2311